My dear Oblate confreres!
I write this letter to you on the day of our renewal of vows! Every year each Oblate re-commits himself fully to God. For living our vows we do have personal responsibility and I would like to encourage you to take it. I am happy that you are or that you want to be an Oblate. Whatever your talents are, I am grateful that you give them to our community. Whatever your weaknesses are, the community is ready to share them with you, as long as you want to grow in your vocation before the Lord. What you are, you give to the community and the community is enriched with each one of you. Once again I thank you!
This letter would like to introduce to you the “Declaration of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in Asia”. During the last months we all had been busy in working on this declaration – earlier we used to call it “Mission Statement”. Then, in our “Regional Meeting of perpetually professed members living in India”, at the begin of November we finalized what we wanted to declare. You can read the result on the other sheet.
This declaration shall serve us in Asia as “form” in which we can now mould our more concrete decisions. I ask you to read this declaration carefully and to make it your own. Embrace it. You were a decisive part in enriching it. It is actually already yours. Whatever we do, be it forming, teaching, studying, learning, preaching, working in our different areas of ministries, our guideline for Asia is now our “Declaration”. The declaration is a goal for what we want to achieve and a mirror for what we are doing. Only we, you and me, can make sure, that it does not remain simply “ink on a sheet of paper”. To embrace something involves the whole body and the whole soul. Just like the vows we take, this shared call, contribution and commitment of ours shall involve every single part of us, every single thought of us, every single second of our time.
In order to achieve this we will need each other: as patient reminder, as courageous and optimistic example, as humble corrective, as gentle and charitable brother. May our Holy Patrons and Founders inspire us!
Our “declaration” is not the only result of our regional meeting at the begin of November. We were able to touch several issues, to clarify many things and to enjoy each other openly. We decided how much each community (Salespuram, Samarpanaram) would have as budget for one month. We discussed some policies concerning the scholastics as well as the whole formation. We shared with each other our struggles, frustrations, hopes, joys and expectations. We make little steps growing as a region, but every time we meet, we look forward to it and thanks be to God enjoy each other’s personality and opinion and company; with all our imperfections. Time running short we decided to meet again from January 10th (after supper) until January 12th 2003 (after lunch) in Samarpanaram.
More concretely we will look into the next years laying ahead: the Philippines and a Theologate are discussed and investigated further. Our limited resources (personnel and money wise) require good planning; on the other hand the “Chablais Spirit” should guide us. Both, good planning and “Chablais Spirit” can be brought together, I have no doubts about it. Time permitting we will also work on the formation program.
Let me share some more thoughts with you.
I want to express publicly my gratitude towards the Salespuram community. To celebrate Founders’ Day at your place, together with many friends and with Fr. General, was a delight. The rain could not stop my happiness about the Fathers and Brothers there, who did very well in enabling us to celebrate this inauguration. Salespuram, I am proud of you! Thank you! And now it is up to you to keep this enthusiasm alive! I will visit Salespuram in the beginning of December in order to work on a formation program for Salespuram together with the staff. I am looking forward to see each one of you there!
Of course, our sick, Fr. Anthony Ceresko (cellulitis) Fr. John Dolan (herniated disc), Br. Jinesh (arthroscopy) and Br. Reji (kidney stone) were very much in our prayers as they had to undergo several surgeries; and they still should be, since the sick are a source of merit for the People of God and for the community. They bring upon the community the most abundant and efficacious graces. The sufferings that one offers God are more efficacious than all the words possible (Const. 173). Hang in there Fathers, Brothers and thank you for providing graces to the community.
Advent is starting soon. It is a time of preparation for the Lord’s birth within us. I sure do hope that you might prepare the way for him, so that he may live in you! You prepare the Lord’s way within you, you can also prepare other ways. During your Christmas holidays do not forget to do some vocation promotion in your surroundings, inquiring about and contacting possible people interested in joining our way of life.
I will be in Europe from December 20th until January 7th (Family Visit and General Council Meeting). I am looking forward to meet Fr. John Sankarathil in Monaco, where the General Council Meeting takes place. I recommend to your prayers Deacon Mathew Mukkath who will be ordained priest on January 25th. Again we can celebrate as community! Yes!
For time being however, you know, you are in my prayers, you, who live in the Philippines, Monaco, Nidadavole, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Bangalore.
Please pray also for me! And pray for the entire Congregation!
God bless all of you! Fr. Sebastian Leitner osfs
DECLARATION
OF THE OBLATES OF SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES
IN ASIA
OUR CALL:
Asia is the largest and most populated continent comprising one-third of the earth’s surface, where sixty per cent of the world’s population live. Among these less than four per cent count themselves as Christians. The command of Jesus to “Go out to the whole world and preach the Good News” thus rings in our ears and calls for a response. We Oblates of St. Francis de Sales have heard that call of Jesus and are ready to respond.
OUR CONTRIBUTION:
In answering that call of Jesus, we Oblates have something unique and original to contribute, the rich heritage of the spirituality of our model and patron, St. Francis de Sales.
His is a spirituality characterized by the virtues of gentleness and humility, optimism and hope. It is a spirituality that is practical, adaptable to all walks of life, compatible with almost every religious tradition, and marked by its inspired common sense. Above all, Francis inspires us to a fervent love of God and neighbor, and leads each one in his individual search for holiness.
Our unique way to embody his spirituality and to “Live Jesus” is the Spiritual Directory which traces to our origins as a Congregation, and was considered essential to our identity as Oblates by our Founder Father Louis Brisson and Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis.
OUR COMMITMENT:
First, we commit ourselves to living and sharing with others the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, especially through the practice of the Spiritual Directory.
Further, we commit ourselves to living the baptismal call by embracing the vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. We live a simple life together in community characterized by prayer and by the struggle to establish God’s Kingdom in this world.
Finally, our Asian context is particularly marked by its massive poverty and by the pervasive religiosity of its culture. It follows that one aspect of our ministry is to “promote justice with regard to the oppressed and downtrodden”. As well, we engage in a respectful dialogue with people of different Christian Churches, religious traditions and secular ideologies. We seek to find common ground with them and, where possible, share in solidarity with them a commitment to justice, peace, the integrity of creation, and the search for God.
With these commitments in mind and remembering St. Francis de Sales’ call to his mission to the Chablais as a young priest and attentive to “the signs of the times,” we make ourselves available for whatever specific apostolate will serve the particular needs of the local Churches in which we find ourselves.
Samarpanaram, November 10, 2002
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